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ἐν

en

G1722 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

A primary preposition expressing location or position within a space, time, or circumstance; in, within, or among. Also marks circumstances, means, manner, or reference in which something happens. Commonly indicates being inside or enclosed by something (literal or metaphorical), or the context in which an event occurs. By extension, can denote by means of, with, or in the course of, reflecting a broad range of relational or situational uses dependent on context.

Semantic Range

in (location, time, or state), within, among, during, at (a place or time), by (means or agent), with (circumstance), under (circumstance), on (surface), in the course of, in reference to, about, because of (rarely), through (less commonly); instrumental sense ('by means of'), association, context, manner, sphere (figurative), circumstance (in which something occurs)

Root / Etymology

The preposition ἐν is directly from ancient Greek and is cognate with Latin 'in', Sanskrit 'in', and English 'in'. It is an inherited Indo-European locative preposition expressing position inside or within.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐν primarily signified position inside a place or boundary. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its range broadened to encompass various abstract and metaphorical senses, such as circumstance ('in difficulty'), means ('by the Spirit'), sphere ('in faith'), or association ('among you'). Unlike εἰς (into, indicating movement toward) and ἐκ (out of, indicating origin), ἐν generally denotes stasis, not movement. The core idea of 'enclosure' or 'within limits' remained prominent, but it also became used in idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'ἐν ὀνόματι'—'in the name'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, ἐν translates several Hebrew prepositions (notably בְּ, bet), sometimes extending metaphorically or grammatically due to differences between languages. English translations often render ἐν as 'in' but also as 'with', 'by', 'among', or 'at', depending on context, sometimes failing to capture the original's range. Rarely, ἐν may indicate accompaniment or means in contexts where modern English would use a different preposition or syntax. ἐν is the standard Greek preposition for inclusion, context, means, or state, pivotal in expressing theological and philosophical nuance in New Testament and post-biblical Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

Root Family

ἐν- (en) — in, within, among, by (means), at, on (fixed position)

Root ἐν- in, within, among, by (means), at, on (fixed position)

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1722-01 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in 2746

Occurrences in Scripture

2746 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1722-01 Matthew 1:18 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT with in in
G1722-01 Matthew 1:20 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 1:23 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:1 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:1 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:2 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:5 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:6 ἐν en PREP DAT among in among
G1722-01 Matthew 2:9 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:16 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:16 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:18 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 2:19 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:1 ἐν en PREP DAT In in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:1 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:3 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:6 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:9 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:11 ἐν en PREP DAT with in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:11 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT with in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:12 ἐν en PREP DAT is in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 3:17 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 4:13 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 4:16 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 4:16 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 4:21 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 4:23 ἐν en PREP DAT throughout in in
G1722-01 Matthew 4:23 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 4:23 ἐν en-3 PREP DAT among in among
G1722-01 Matthew 5:12 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:13 ἐν en PREP DAT with in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:15 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:16 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:19 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:19 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:25 ἐν en PREP DAT on in on
G1722-01 Matthew 5:28 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:34 ἐν en PREP DAT by in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:35 ἐν en PREP DAT by in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:36 ἐν en PREP DAT by in in
G1722-01 Matthew 5:45 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:1 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:2 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:2 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:4 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:4 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:5 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:5 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:6 ἐν en PREP DAT in in in
G1722-01 Matthew 6:6 ἐν en-2 PREP DAT in in in
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